Amelia International Conservation Studies
Unlocking the Secrets of Historical Bookbinding:
Structures, Preservation and Book Conservation
Program Description
This program aims to introduce students to the fields of historical bookbinding, to the craft of bookmaking and the science and practice of book conservation and preservation.
It provides an overview of the history and making of bookbinding structures, the students will gain knowledge on the materiality of the book and the craft of bookbinding through the centuries, while developing an understanding on the fundamental causes of deterioration. Through practical workshops they will develop skills for making historical book structures and learn methodologies and techniques for the preservation and conservation of bookbindings.
This program is intended to supplement the Paper Restoration Program offered in Session 1. For students seeking a comprehensive foundation in the discipline of book conservation and restoration, we recommend enrolling in both programs to gain a well-rounded understanding of the field.
Course Dates:
July 14 - August 8, 2025
Amelia International Conservation Studies
July 14 - August 8, 2025
Amelia, Italy
Course 1
Instructor: Prof. Nikolas Sarris
History and the making of early bookbinding structures
This course is an introduction to the archaeology, the history and the making processes of bookbinding structures, from the early codex to post-medieval European bindings.
The course provides a thorough theoretical background on the characteristics, the materials, the bookmaking features and the evolution of the major bookmaking traditions throughout the centuries.
In parallel, the students will have the chance to put their knowledge to practice and make different bookbinding models based on typologies of early and historical structures.
Course 2
Instructor: Prof. Nikolas Sarris
Conservation and preservation of books
This course provides an insight into the main principles and practices of book conservation and preservation.
Following the curriculum the students will be able to identify the main agents of deterioration of books and their bindings and they will be introduced to methodologies for the documentation and scientific analysis of book features and their state of preservation.
Having developed an understanding of book structures and book components they will be taught book conservation and bookbinding repair techniques, and will expand on theoretical and practical aspects of book preservation and preventive conservation.